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LONDON -- This year's singles champions at Wimbledon will each receive $2.4 million after the
All England Club increased overall prize money by a record 40 percent for the biggest total payout
in tennis history.

Wimbledon also announced today that it plans to build a retractable roof on Court No.1 in the
latest move to combat the rain delays that affected the tournament over the years.

Prize money will total $34.4 million, an increase of $9.9 million from last year. The club
called it the largest single increase and biggest total prize fund in the history of professional
tennis.

The singles winners will get a significant increase on the $1.75 million that Roger Federer
and Serena Williams picked up last year.

The prize money increase also helps players who lose in the early rounds or in qualifying for
the grass-court championships, which will be held June 24 to July 7.

Prize money will go up 60 percent for singles players who exit in the first three rounds. A
first-round loser will earn $35,800, up from $22,100 in 2012.

The purse for qualifying will increase by 41 percent, while doubles players will receive a 22
percent increase.

"The risk you run eventually by failing to invest is you get into a downward spiral - the
championships at the moment are in an upward spiral," Lewis said. "That's why we have a track
record of investing and we will continue to invest.

"One of the reasons (players) feel like it's a fantastic event is because we treat them very
well."

The soaring payout comes amid wider economic problems in Britain.

"We absolutely understand we are not immune to what's going on in this country - quite the
opposite - we fully understand that," Lewis said. "But equally it's important that we invest in the
event and we invest based upon the success of the championships."